Sushant Singh Rajput death case: Aditya Chopra and Bhansali's statements differ, says investigation team
The investigation team probing the death of Sushant Singh Rajput pointed that Aditya Chopra and Sanjay Leela Bhansali's statements differ in the case.
The investigation team probing the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput has pointed out that the statements of YRF (Yash Raj Films) chairman Aditya Chopra and filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali differ. The team suspects that one of them had not provided correct information.
Police sources revealed that Sanjay Leela Bhansali, in his statement, had said that he had approached YRF to allow Sushant Singh Rajput to work in Bajirao Mastani. He further added that the YRF officials said that Sushant couldn’t work with the filmmaker since he was working on Paani and there was an issue related to dates. Meanwhile YRF chairman Aditya Chopra, who recorded his statement at Versova Police Station on Saturday, said in his statement that Bhansali never approached YRF to allow Sushant to work in Bajirao Mastani. Chopra also said that at the same time, YRF had allowed Sushant to work on the film MS Dhoni: The Untold Story. Hence, there wasn't any issue in allowing him to work for other filmmakers.
Chopra was questioned by the investigating team from Bandra Police Station on Saturday at the Versova Police Station for over four hours. He was summoned by the police as allegations surfaced that the production house with whom the late actor had a three-film contract didn't allow Rajput to work with Bhansali.
Police are also investigating the angle that Rajput had left YRF mid-way while he had a three-film contract with the production house. Rajput lost some major films offered by Sanjay Leela Bhansali due to his contract with YRF while Ranveer Singh, who was also under a contract with YRF, was allowed to work with the filmmaker.
A police source revealed that Chopra, in his statement, has said that before Sushant Singh Rajput signed the contract with YRF, Bhansali had already signed Ranveer Singh for the film. He further added that there was no way that talent management of YRF didn't allow Rajput to work in the film.
Sushant Singh Rajput was under a three-film contract with YRF till 2015. Out of these, Rajput did two films which were Shuddh Desi Romance and Detective Byomkesh Bakshy. The third film titled Paani, for which Sushant Singh Rajput was signed as the lead, was being directed by Shekhar Kapur. YRF had spent Rs 5 to 6 crores on the pre-production of the film but the film didn't take off due to creative differences between Kapur and Chopra.
With the film Paani being shelved, Sushant missed on some of the major films offered to him while he was bound by contract by the production house and issue with availability of dates.
Rajput left YRF in 2015 and went on to work with other filmmakers and there hadn’t been any differences or disputes between the production house and the actor.
Bhansali, who was questioned last week by the investigating team, revealed that he had offered four films to Sushant Singh Rajput. Out of the four films offered to Sushant, three turned to be blockbusters while the fourth one didn't work out.
The films offered to Sushant Singh Rajput by Sanjay Leela Bhansali were Goliyon ki Rasleela: Ramleela, Bajirao Mastani, Padmavat and a fourth film which didn't take off. According to Aditya Chopra, one of the first films offered by Sanjay Leela Bhansali to Rajput, Goliyon ki Rasleela: Ramleela, was signed by Ranveer Singh before Sushant Singh Rajput even signed the contract with YRF for three films.
Sources revealed that Sushant was offered lead roles in Ramleela and Bajirao Mastani. He was also offered the role of the Rajput king Maharawal Ratan Singh, played by Shahid Kapoor, in the film later on. The offers couldn't materialise according to the statement made by Bhansali due to Sushant's unavailability of dates to shoot for the films.
Ramleela, an Indian adaptation of Romeo and Juliet grossed over Rs 220 crores at box office while being shot for a budget of around Rs 48 crores and won over 19 awards and accolades at various Bollywood award functions and forums.
Bajirao Mastani was again a blockbuster hit grossing over Rs 350 crores while being made at a budget of around Rs 146 crores. The film won 62 awards at various forums including National Film Awards. Ranveer Singh won the best actor award at Filmfare awards while Bhansali won the Best Film and Best Director Award.
Padmavat was another blockbuster hit and did business of around Rs 585 crores while being made at a budget of Rs 215 crore. The film won over 25 awards and over 60 nominations at various forums meant for films.
The investigating team will soon be recording statements of some eminent film personalities in connection with Sushant Singh Rajput’s death case.
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